India ‘cockroach’ activist Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike as protests spread

Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding educational reforms as part of the Cockroach Janta party's protest movement in Mumbai, India, on Thursday. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on Friday. Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP View image in fullscreen Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding educational reforms as part of the Cockroach Janta party's protest movement in Mumbai, India, on Thursday. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on Friday. Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP India ‘cockroach’ activist Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike as protests spread Sonam Wangchuk halted strike amid concerns about ‘possible violence’ in India as protest movement urges demonstrations across country on Friday over police brutality Indian “cockroach” activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday over an exam paper scandal that has spiralled into a wideranging youth-led protest against Narendra Modi’s government, with protesters continuing to call for the education minister to resign. Wangchuk said on social media that he ended the hunger strike in Delhi in the presence of two federal ministers at the urging of scores of members ⁠of parliament, and after “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country”. He did not elaborate on the talks but promised to lay out details in a video soon. Anger, defiance and a hunger strike: India’s Cockroach movement protests – in pictures Read more Protests under the Cockroach Janta party (CJP) ​movement have called for nationwide demonstrations on Friday ‌in solidarity with students who alleged police brutality during a march on parliament on Monday by tens of thousands of people, even as Modi’s government urged them to join talks. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Wangchuk for his “courage and sacrifice” and said the protests would continue until minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. “We won’t let Sonam ⁠sir’s sacrifice go in vain,” he added in a video message. The CJP ​movement wants Pradhan to step down over exam paper leaks that affected 2 million students in May and have been linked to several student suicides. Late on Tuesday, Pradhan, in his first comments since demands for his resignation were made, said the government was committed to addressing concerns and reforming ​exams. The protests have drawn tens of thousands on to the streets, and represent the biggest youth challenge to Modi since he came to power in 2014. ‌Opposition parties have echoed the youth movement’s demands and have ‌ disrupted the monsoon session of parliament that began this week. On the ground at India’s ‘Cockroach’ protest After Wangchuk ended his hunger strike, Modi urged the activist to follow doctors’ advice and regain the weight he has lost. Thousands of people remained at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Thursday afternoon, carrying anti-government posters and chanting slogans amid heavy security deployment. The protests have shut met